What extracts the most energy the fastest ? Cow or ad plant ?
The AD plant. A ruminant's stomach is one of the most inefficient energy conversion devices, though will digest materials little else will.
No buggering about with milk prices, stockmen etc. Either. Add a feed in tariff and what's not to like?
The AD plant. A ruminant's stomach is one of the most inefficient energy conversion devices, though will digest materials little else will.
No buggering about with milk prices, stockmen etc. Either. Add a feed in tariff and what's not to like?
A ruminants stomach is one of the most inefficient devices ?? With respect, you haven't got a clueThe AD plant. A ruminant's stomach is one of the most inefficient energy conversion devices, though will digest materials little else will.
No buggering about with milk prices, stockmen etc. Either. Add a feed in tariff and what's not to like?
A ruminants stomach is one of the most inefficient devices ?? With respect, you haven't got a clue
The whole thing is way way to complex for any person to understand, you can't judge a cows efficiency based on intake v meat or milk output. It takes no account of the nutrient density of the food produced plus a lot of other stuff we simply don't understand, this stuff is beyond our understanding and far too complex for man to figure out. I've heard the vegan argument that water usage by animals v plants is so much more inefficient blah blah, it is not that simple, and it's way beyond me to explainPlease, enlighten me.
6kg maize for 1 kg of beef. Feed conversion ratios in poultry and pigs are less than 2. In fish it is nearly 1:1
That is how as should work, big one near me runs of waste food which is again a good use of this technology.
How much energy goes into growing crops for AD vs energy out ? And what is the carbon balance sheet like ? Would be interested to know if any one has figures ?
Well I don’t really think feed in tariff is necessary as the cost of on shore wind and solar falls.The AD plant. A ruminant's stomach is one of the most inefficient energy conversion devices, though will digest materials little else will.
No buggering about with milk prices, stockmen etc. Either. Add a feed in tariff and what's not to like?
The whole thing is way way to complex for any person to understand, you can't judge a cows efficiency based on intake v meat or milk output. It takes no account of the nutrient density of the food produced plus a lot of other stuff we simply don't understand, this stuff is beyond our understanding and far too complex for man to figure out. I've heard the vegan argument that water usage by animals v plants is so much more inefficient blah blah, it is not that simple, and it's way beyond me to explain
Whats in it?
Is AD economic without subsidy though?AD gets a bad name from the 'bad' people in the industry. It's the same in farming. Done properly, sustainably and sensibly it's fantastic news for a farm and its soils. As Lee mentions above. The benefits are very similar to having cattle on the farm. Topping one up with an element of food waste or soup is the icing on the cake too. It's carbon cycle is actually very good, as is the ratio for energy in, for energy out. If they are run as they should, with a sensible crop grown locally.
Just to add, I'm told sludge cake will also be "killing my soil" having used a vast amount for 6 years. I can report that this is far from the case.
Hi, I’m Stuart Sutherland, Technical Manager at Interagro and will be following Clive’s Bridgeway experience with great interest. Also here to answer any technical questions you might have.
Delivering value through innovation is at the heart of what we do, and that means working collaboratively with farmers, on their soils, on their cropping systems to really put our products to the test. We were therefore delighted when Clive got in touch with a proposal to really put Bridgeway through its paces.
We were keen to broaden the number of scenarios Clive is testing because with the experience we have developed and with a greater understanding now of the role of amino acids in plant health, we strongly believe that early applications at T0 and T1 are key to protect potential. Is it likely that Bridgeway applications will need topping up as the season develops? – Yes, quite possibly, particularly if conditions later in the season become stressful for the crop. However, none of us have a crystal ball so we will see what happens. It is better to have the Bridgeway on to protect against stress.
As with farming generally, biostimulants aren’t an exact science, it does depend on the field situation. Timing is key and getting treatments on early to build plant health and protect potential are crucial. Then it’s about monitoring plant health and responding to the needs of the crop.
This will be a particularly interesting set of farm trials because Clive has a number of tools at his disposal to measure the crop’s response to Bridgeway as the season progresses. The Brix readings will measure sucrose – a higher Brix reading will indicate a crop that is photosynthesising more; leaf tissue tests will be able to assess if Bridgeway is helping to increase nutrient uptake. Some examples of these measures can be found: https://www.interagro.co.uk/case-st...chieve-milling-specification-in-winter-wheat/
Very much looking forward to monitoring Clive’s progress.
For anyone looking for more info on Bridgeway or a copy of our product guides please visit:
https://www.interagro.co.uk/product/bridgeway/
Many thanks.
I'm not dodging the question, just not able to explain what I'm mean. A grazing animal brings far more to the ecosystem than we understand so imv a cow cannot be judged on it's food conversion abilities, it is way more complex than that, many people, who know far more than I ever will, say that they are simply vital to the health of the ecosystem. I have no doubt that the widespread removal and/ or mismanagement of grazing animals from our land is playing a huge part in the problems that we are facing with pests, disease, climate challenges etc. Fencing, lack of roi , lack of stock man skills etc etc are real challenges but that doesn't change the fact that these animals are vital so they can't be judged on their food conversion efficiency, a fish might be better but it can't graze grass so can't bring the soil health benefits that a ruminant bringsOk, so you're dodging the question.My comment was a broadly sweeping statement and I hoped for a reaction!
Ruminants make use of farm land that nothing else will - that's one of the holes in the vegan argument. Their inefficient feed conversion ratio means we have a good demand for feed grains. In well managed grazing (mob stocking) the manure is more evenly distributed and there is greater use of the growing fodder.
On my farm, just putting the water & outer fencing in place runs to hundreds of thousands of pounds for grazing that has a lower economic return than crops. It is hard to justify the investment - I can make more doing it with cover crops and bought in manures, accepting that a stock farm is buying in fertiliser in the form of animal feeds that helps balance the export of nutrients aboard grain lorries. A return of livestock will have to be gradual, with electric fencing, some water bowsers with the gradual investment in corridor/access fencing & water mains.
Thanks for getting the thread back on topic ................. its has rather drifted (several times and directions !)
I have a question - how long after application would you suggest I compares Brix or had tissue test done ? ie how long before you would expect to see a difference (if any) ?